Integrated flow systems

ABSTRACT

A device for improving speed, control, and performance of water sports craft achieved by capturing lateral water flow and redirecting water flow longitudinally thereby increasing speed and control.  
     The apparatus is designed to be attached to the underside of a water sports craft in the aft area by means of P.S.A. The invention consists of triangular shaped ridges or elevated ridges extending downward from the bottom surface of craft with a tapered leading entry point and exit point (FIGS.  1, 2, 3 ) consisting of a smooth flexible plastic. The invention can be applied in various configurations and locations on the underside of a water vehicle to achieve desired effect. Invention requires installer to first clean surface that invention is to be applied to. A desirable configuration must first be obtained before removing the protective adhesive backing and then applying with firm pressure for proper bond.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,

BE IT KNOWN THAT WE, Randal Robert Richenberg and Christopher Kevin Coyle, citizens of the United States, have invented a new and useful device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted onto existing water sports craft to increase speed, control, and performance, a device of which the following is a specification:

A means for improving speed, control, and performance of water sports craft (surfboards, sailboards, wakeboards,etc.) by capturing lateral water flow and redirecting the water flow longitudinally, thereby increasing speed and control. The invention consists of 90 degree angle shaped ridges or various other designs extending downward from bottom surface of craft with a tapered entry point and exit point, consisting of a smooth, flexible plastic with a two-sided adhesive film backing. Ridges or various water flow influencing designs to be applied in various configurations and locations on a watercraft's bottom surface mainly in aft area. (FIG. 6). Two sided pressure sensitive adhesive film material to be applied to mounting side of ridge with protective backing layer covering said layer of adhesive material made to be removed for application of said ridge to bottom of water craft.

Terminology used in this Application;

-   Ridge—channel, strake, water flow influencing (or directing) device. -   Water sports craft—surfboard, sailboard, kit board, boogey board,     wake board. -   Lateral water flow—water flow at angles as opposed to longitudinal     flow, which flows, from front to rear. -   P.S.A—Pressure sensitive, two-sided adhesive film. A means of     applying I. F. S. -   I.F.S.—Integrated Flow Systems -   Longitudinal flow—water flowing lengthwise. -   Retrofitted—applied to craft after initial manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of apparatus for a device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted onto existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance. Moreover it pertains specifically to such apparatus for a means for improving speed, control, and performance of water sports craft, by capturing lateral water flow and redirecting the water flow longitudinally, thereby increasing speed and control. The invention consists of 90 degree angle shaped ridges and various other designs extending downward from bottom surface of craft with a tapered leading entry point and exit point (FIGS. 1, 2, 3) consisting of a smooth, flexible plastic with an adhesive film backing. The elevated ridges to be applied in various configurations and locations on a watercraft's bottom surface mainly in aft area. (FIG. 6). Two sided adhesive film material to be applied to bottom side of ridge (FIG. 4C) with protective backing layer covering said layer of adhesive material made to be peeled off for application of said channel to bottom of water craft.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Many devices have been proposed for in invention relating to a type of water sports equipment and specifically to a hydrodynamic divide that can be retrofitted onto existing watercraft to increase speed, control and performance.

Some of these devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,347 issued to Harness on Aug. 22, 2000, design U.S. Pat. No. 323,691 issued to Olson on Feb. 4, 1992, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,980 issued to Stedman on Nov. 7, 1989.

However, these devices are limited in their functionality, some restrict the function, application and configuration of the ridges, channels or grooves. In the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,347, Harness uses a pad with raised ridges that limits the configuration and different shapes and numbers of ridges, the pad also restricts how far aft the pad can be placed on a waters sports vehicle due to the rear fin. In U.S. Pat. No. 323,691 Olson illustrates an integral approach of configuring grooves into the bottom of a ski board, this method is permanent and does not allow for different configurations or shapes after the application has been made. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,9890, Stedman retrofits a surfboard using molding strips that were originally designed and used for automotive purposes, this method is made of a heavy and nonflexible material and the ridges or channels are limited to their shape and size.

The market for water sports craft contains many different designs and therefore requires a better means of redirecting water flow with the ability to change the configuration, shape or length, and number of water flow influencing designs to achieve the desired increase in speed, control and performance not currently being addressed by the prior art.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved, more universal apparatus for redirective lateral water flow and in turn increasing speed, control, and performance with the potential of changing the configuration, shape or length of water influencing designs, and the number of elevated ridges which addresses the deficiencies of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the limitations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and useful device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be installed onto existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance which is simpler in construction, more universally usable and more versatile in operation than known apparatus of this kind.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted onto existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance, a device that has many novel features not offered by the prior art apparatus that result in a new device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted onto existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance a device which is not apparent, obvious, or suggested, either directly or indirectly by any of the prior art apparatus

A means for improving speed, control, and performance of aquatic sports craft by capturing lateral water flow and redirecting the water flow longitudinally, thereby increasing speed and control. The invention consists of elevated ridges extending downward from bottom surface of vehicle with a tapered leading entry point and exit point (FIGS. 1, 2, 3) consisting of a smooth, flexible plastic with P.S.A. The elevated ridges to be applied in various configurations and locations on a watercraft's bottom surface mainly in aft area (FIG. 6). P. S. A. to be applied to bottom side of elevated channel with protective backing layer covering said layer of adhesive material made to be peeled off for application of said elevated channel to bottom of water craft. The foregoing has outlined, in general, the physical aspects of the invention and is to serve as an aid to better understanding the more complete detailed description, which is to follow. In reference to such, there is to be a clear understanding that the present invention is not limited to the method or detail of construction, fabrication, material, or application of use described and illustrated herein. Any other variation of fabrication, use, or application should be considered apparent as an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Integrated Flow Systems is means for improving speed, control, and performance of water sports craft; by capturing lateral water flow and redirecting the water flow longitudinally, thereby increasing speed and control. The invention consists of triangular shaped ridges or various designs extending downward from bottom surface of craft with a tapered leading entry point and exit point (FIG. 4) consisting of a smooth, flexible plastic with a P.S.A. The elevated ridges to be applied by removing protective paper from adhesive film and pressing firmly to bottom of water craft in various configurations and locations on a water craft's bottom surface mainly in aft area. (FIG. 5.) P.S.A. material to be applied to mounting side of channel with protective layer covering said layer of adhesive material made to be removed for application of said water flow influencing designs to bottom of water craft.

It is further intended that any other embodiments of the present invention that result from any changes in application or method of use or operation, method of manufacture, shape, size, or material which are not specified within the detailed written description or illustrations contained herein yet are considered apparent or obvious to one skilled in the art are within the scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS FOR DRAWINGS

A presently contemplated embodiment of invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Page 1

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrating plan view outline.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrating side view elevation outline.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of invention illustrating cross sectional shape.

Page 2

FIG. 4B is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a surfboard with an exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrating pressure sensitive adhesive on mounting surface.

FIG. 4C is a cross sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of invention illustrating mounting surface with pressure sensitive film applied.

Page 3

FIG. 4A is a cross sectional view of surfboard with exemplary embodiment of the invention installed in one example of various configuration.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a surfboard with an exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrating invention installed in one example of various configurations.

Page 4

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a surfboard with an exemplary embodiment of the invention Illustrating invention installed in one example of various configurations.

FIG. 6A cross sectional view with an exemplary embodiment of invention illustrating invention in one example of various configurations.

LISTING OF NUMBERED COMPONENTS CONTAINED IN DRAWINGS

-   1. Exemplary embodiment of invention -   2 Surfboard. -   3 Fins—A—right forward fin, B—Left forward fin. C—Rear center fin. -   4 P.S.A—Pressure sensitive adhesive. 

1. What we claim as our invention provides device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted on to existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance that will overcome the deficiencies of the prior art devices.
 2. What we claim as our invention provides a device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted onto existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance device that is a means of retrofitting watercraft with ridges to enhance speed control and performance.
 3. What we claim as our invention provides a device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted on to existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance and can be bent or curved.
 4. What we claim as our invention provides a device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted on to existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance and that device can be removed without causing damage to the surface it was once attached.
 5. What we claim as our invention provides a device that relate's to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted on to existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance and that device can be molded in various shapes.
 6. What we claim as our invention provides a device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted on to existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance and that device can be applied in various configurations and locations on the underside of water craft.
 7. What we claim as our invention provides a device that relates to a type of water sports craft and specifically to a hydrodynamic device that can be retrofitted on to existing craft to increase speed, control, and performance and that device is easily attached for instant results without disturbing the structural integrity of the water craft.
 8. What we claim as our invention provides a means for enhancing speed, performance and stability by directing water flow to the bottom surface of an existing watercraft.
 9. What we claim as our invention provides a means for allowing for a variety of contours and designs for application to bottom surface of a watercraft that are difficult and labor intensive to produce by normal manufacturing process.
 10. What we claim as our invention provides a means for allowing a variety of configurations of contour designs that may be applied to achieve desired performance result. It is intended that any other advantages and objects of the present invention that become apparent or obvious from the detailed description or illustrations contained herein are within the scope of the present invention. 